Automatic prong-cutting machine.



L. LEHR.

AUTOMATIC PRONG CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1916.

1 ,2 1 6&69. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. LEHR. AUTOMATIC PRONG CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1916- Patented Feb. 20,1917.

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l i I l i-'- I r a9 a ,l l I a I @1 2 HUI f m M0 7 4mg L LEW AUITOMATIC PRONG CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION man rm. 21.3916,

LQWABQB Patented mam-1517.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- I z r r y LOUIS LE'HR, F BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR MEYEROWITZ MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y

A CORPQRATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC PRGNG-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed February 21, 1916. Serial No. 79,554.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS LEHR, a citizen of the United States, residing at 33 West Fifty-first street, Bayonne, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Prong-Cutting Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The present invention relates to a means of forming the prongs which constitute a jewel-mounting upon a ring, eardrop, brooch, or other article of jewelry. Such prongs are formed from a cup of metal having walls of sufficient thickness to furnish the prongs which are shaped by removing segments from the periphery of such cup and leaving the desired prongs standing.

The device described herein can be applied to any machine furnished with a re volving cutter and with a table to support the device beneath the cutter; and the object of the invention is to furnish an apparatus more simple in construction than has heretofore been used, and one in which a part of the actuating mechanism is replaced by a hand-lever, to shift the carrier manually back and forth beneath the cutter.

The invention embraces a bed of special construction with a slide movable thereon, and a hand-lever for reciprocating the slide. The carrier is provided with a vise to sustain the mountings and is fitted to rotate upon the slide, and means is provided for partially turning the carrier at each reciprocation of the slide. carrier is effected in the closing part of the reciprocating movement so thatthe mounting is retracted from the cutter before such,

rotation commences.

A special appliance is provided for collecting and preserving the chips of precious metal which are removed from the mounting by the cutter, such means consisting of a hood embracing a great part of the cutter, and a connection from the same to .an eX- hausted reservoir which produces a strong suction within the hood to carry agreat part of the metal chips into such reservoir. A pan beneath the entire device may also be provided to catch the remaining chips, so as to avoid any loss whatever of the precious metal.

The device is secured removably and ad- Such rotation of the.

justably in the pan beneath the cutter, and the hood is secured removably and adjustably in relation to the cutter, by which the device may be applied removably to the table of a milling machine and adjusted thereon in a suitable position for operation.

The invention will be understood by reference'to the annexed drawing, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of the apparatus with the chip pan in section; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with a part of the cutter-head omitted; Fig. 8 is an end eleva ti on of the apparatus for cutting the mountings with the gage applied to center a mounting in the vise; Fig. 41: isa plan of the attachment; Fig. 5 is an inverted. view of the carrier; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the gage removed from the carrier and vise; F 7 is an elevation of the detachable plug for the gage; Fig. 8 is a plan in section on line 8-8 in Fig. 9; and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the apparatus, the parts where hatched being shown in section on line 99 in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 shows the lockingbolt retracted. Fig. 10 is an edge view of the hood. A designates the table of a milling machine, B the front end of the cutter-head, G the cutter-spindle, D the brace-bar projected from the cutter-head to support any part upon or near the cutter-spindle.

A cutter a is shown upon the spindle C, and a rotatable carrier 5 is shown beneath the same and provided with two visejaws 0.

The carrier is mounted upon a slide (Z which is fitted by ribs cl to guides 7 upon the edge of a base-block g. The base-block is shown within a pan h and the base and pan are secured tothe table a of the milling machine by bolts extended through the feet 9 upon the base.

Such feet are slotted longitudinally, as shown in Figs. 8 and- 9, thus permitting the base to be adjusted upon the bolts which secure it in the pan.

The means for securing the pan to the table of the milling machine are Wholly detachable so that the device may be operated in the milling machine and removed therefrom whenever the machine is required for other uses.

The carrier is provided with a cylindrical shank b fitted to rotate in a hole in the top of the slide (Z, and mechanism is provided to partially rotate the carrier when the slide is reciprocated by a handle '5 which is jointed to the slide at and pivoted by a link 76 to the base 9.: V I

To produce a partial rotation of the carrier at each reciprocation of the slide, the shank V6 is provided with a series of pins 6, e which project from the shank into the space between the ribs (1, the slide and the base, as'shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

An arrow at is shown in Fig. 2 to indicate the direction of the retracting movement, during which the mounting is withdrawn from the cutter and at the close of which the carrier is partially rotated. An arrow a is shown in" the same figure to indicate the opposite or cutting movement of the carrier. A pawl Z is jointed to the base by pivot Z, and itsfree end is formed to engage one of the pins 6 or (2 when the slide is retracted.

It will be understood that the five pins marked 6 and the pin marked a are all part of the series which are engaged successively V by the pawl Z to rotate the carrier when the tion in or removal from the vise.

carriage is near the close of its retracting movement as in Fig. 2; and the carrier and the mountings thereon have only reciprocating motion while the mounting is beneath the cutter.

In Fig. 2, the slide is represented during its retracting movement (in the direction of the arrow (4 in Figs. 2 and 8), in which the carrier is rotated and the vise is exposed for inspection of the mounting, or for its inser- The op posite movement (in the direction of the arrow at), Fig. 2, moves the mounting to the cutter and carries it beneath the same to form the prongs desired.

"In Fig. 8, one side of the pawl is shown hollowed out to clear the pin marked 6, which represents the pin next to that engaged'by the pawl, and a spring m is fixed to the pawl l to press the pawl normally toward a stop m, which operates to hold the pawl in line with the neXt pin; which is moved to the position of the pin a when the carrier is again retracted, andbelt'ore the close of the retracting movement a'suiiicient distance to move such pin to the position of the pin which is engaged with the pawl in Fig. 8.

Duringthe feeding or cutting movement the pin 6" is moved toward the free end of the pa'wluntil it passes beneath the same and the pawl then springs toward the stop m, which places the pawl in linewith the next pin 6 to engagethe latter, thus suitably rotating the carrier to expose another portion of the mounting to the cutter for the next cutting movement.

To look the carrier in position upon the slide when thus turned, a series of holes 7) is formed in the under side of'the carrier and a bolt Q is movable vertically in the slide to engage such holes. An arm q engages the bottom of the bolt and presses it normally upward by means of a spring q. The hub of the spring-arm is formed with a shoulder s, and a spring-latch r is mounted in a slot 1* in the base 9 and arranged to engage such shoulder at the extreme end of the slides movement.

The first reverse movement of the slide engages the latch 1" with the shoulder 8 upon the spring-arm and retracts the bolt 0 from the hole 2), as shown in F 9".

The downward movement of the bolt ultimately disengages the latch '1' from the spring-arm, permitting it to be lifted by the spring 9", to engage the next hole 7) when the carrier is rotated, and thus hold the carrier from rotation during the cutting movement.

In the continued advance of the slide the pin (2 engages the pawl Z and rotates the carrier until the bolt 0 reen 'ages the next hole 1) upon the carrier.

It will be understood from the representation of Figs. 8 and 9 that the pawl Z, the

'arm 1, the bolt 0 and the latch 1' are operated in the space between the ribs (Z, the slide and the base; which space is provided to enable these parts to ope ate upon the pins which rotate the carrier, and to lock the carrier when rotated.

As the engagement of the ribs (Z and f is necessary to guide the slide upon the base, this space is secured by merely omitting the metal between the ribs d, and without increasing the depth or bulk of the associated parts.

A; gage-screw t is shown fastened to the end of the slide to contact with the end oi the base 9 and thus adjust the reciprocating movement to the desired stroke.

It will be understood that such engagement of the pawl and such rotation of the carrier are effected during the closing portion of the slides movement, so that the mounting is .vithdrawn from the cutter before the rotation of the carrier commences.

The holes 29 are shown of taper form and made in a separate ring 7), the under side of which is shown in Fig. 5.

Such ring is secured by screws u to the under side of the carrier, and its periphery is shown with. notches a into which a springcatch 4) may be fitted to permit the locking of the carrier by hand in any desired position.

The catch is shown in Figs. 3 and 4-, the former figure showing a spring '0 which operates upon the head '0 of the catch when it is retracted, to hold it in a withdrawn or inoperative position, so as to admit the automatic operation of the carrier-rctractii1g devices Z and e. The spring-catch is shown attached to the front side of the slide in Fig. 3, but for convenience it is shown attached to the rear side of the slide in Fig. at, for want of room upon the drawing at the front side of the slide. The catch operates precisely the same whether applied to the front'or rear edge of the notched wheel 79.

It will be understood that the ring 79 per forms a double function, first, by reason of the six holes 7) which cooperate with the bolt 0 and the pawl and pins for turning and locking the carrier autoniatically, and sec- 0nd, by reason of the notches in its periphery operating in connection with the springlatch 12, to lock the carrier in various adjusted positions other than those which can be produced by the pawl and pins.

The notched ring 79 with its spring catch when operating upon the same carrier as the pawl Z and pins 0, enables the machine to be used to form many different numbers of prongs upon the mounting, instead of the six prongs produced bythe normal operation of the pawl.

When the use of such a notched ring and catch is desired, the pawl can be rendered in operative by slightly shortening the stroke of the slide upon the base by means of the adjusting screw t, as such shortening prevents the pins upon the carrier from moving past the end of the pawl and engaging the same. The carrier thus ceases its auto matic operations and can be turned by hand and locked in any desired position by fitting the catch to the proper notch in the ring 79.

The vacuum hood for collecting the chips from the cutter is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10, and includes a box or hood to which embraces the periphery of the cutter upon the upper side, leaving the lower side exposed to operate upon the mounting.

Such hood is supported over the cutter clear of the same by an adjusting rod E which is extended to the support D upon the cutter-head B. A suction-tube w is extended from the hood to a reservoir F which is shown in the form of a bottle with a screwcap F, to facilitate the removal of the contents.

A suction-pipe G is shown extended fromthe reservoir and would be connected with a positive blower or ing the reservoir.

The rod E is shown movable vertically upon the brace-bar D and clamped by a setscrew in its adjusted position, and thus furnishes the means of raising and lowering the hood to fit as closely as possible about the cutter, and enable the current of air to op crate most effectively in removing the chips. The brace-bar is shown fitted to the head B in the usual manner so that it can be moved forward or backward upon the same, thus furnishing an additional means of adjusting the hood longitudinally in relation to the cutter,

Owing to the close proximity of the hood to the mounting, the chips of metal, although -intrinsically heavy, are always plate 0 which projects over other means of exhaust' wholly lifted into the hood and carried to the reservoir F. The pan 72, serves to catch the remainder of the chips so that none may be lost.

The vise-jaws 0, shown upon the carrier herein are provided with clamping-pieces 0, each of which has a cylindrical rib 0 upon the outer face fitted to a corresponding groove 0 in the face of one of the jaws.

This permits the clamping-pieces to tip and rock as upon hinges, and thus to accommodate themselves to the shape of the part which carries the jewel mounting.

' Such part is shown in Figs. 3 and 9 as a ring thinner at its outer side than next the mounting.

With such hinged clampingpieces, the part clamped thereby may take a variety of inclined positions when the jaws are screwed up by the right and left hand screw C. To prevent the falling of metal chips into the space between the jaws where the clamping pieces are hinged, I project 'a nozzle or extension from each clamping piece above the jaw, and fit to each of such nozzles a guardthe clampingpieces and excludes the chips from such space. To secure a proper position for the mounting, for the operation of the cutter, I form parallel gage-bores upon the carrier adjacent to the vise and provide a gage having posts fitted removably to such bores, and a cross-head carrying a gage-plug adapted to enter the mounting and suitably center it in the vise while the vise-screw C is being A operated.

The bores H are shown in Figs. 3 and at extended vertically in the carrier at opposite sides of the vise and supplemented by tubes H extended upwardly to increase the length of the bore. The posts w are attached to opposite ends of the cross-head y and the gage-block 2 is extended through the middle portion of the cross-head so as to fit into the mounting a in the vise, as shown in Fig. 3. The mountingis, of course, cupshape before it is divided by the cutter, and the gage-block is formed to fit the interior of the cup, and is shown fitted removably to the middle of the cross-head by a screwneck 1 the gage-block having a milledhead e" by which it is readily screwed into position and readily removed to substitute another of different size, when required.

From the above description it will be understood that the movements of the slide may be effected very quickly by the handlever 2' which, for this purpose, is more cheap and efficient than a feed-screw, and the location of the devices for turning the carrier in the space between the ribs cl secures a very compact construction, while the provision of the notched ring it greatly widens the capability of the machine for cutting any required number of prongs in a mounting.

: The provision of the shields 0 and the connection of the exhausted reservoir F secures a saving in great degree of the chips of metal which are formed by the cutter.

Having thusset forth the nature of the invention what is claimed herein is:

1. A device for cutting jewel mountings, consisting of a base with means for fastening it adjustably and removably upon the table of a milling machine, a slide movable upon the base, a carrier mounted rotatably upon the slide, a vise upon the carrier to hold the mounting, a revolving cutter sustained above the vise, means actuated by the slide for partially rotating the carrier at each reciprocation, and a hand-lever connecting the base with the slide to move the slide during the cutting of the mounting and to retract it for rotating the carrier.

2. A device for cutting jewel mountings, consisting of a base-plate with parallel guides at the edges, a slide having ribs fitted to such guides with open-space between such ribs and the slide and base-plate, a carrier mounted rotatably upon the slide with means for supporting the mounting thereon and having a shank fitted rotatably in the slide and extended into the space between the ribs, a series of turningpins projected'into such space from suchshank, and a pawl pivoted to the base in the said space and adapted to engage the pins successively and partially rotate the carrier when the slide is reciprocated upon the base.

3. The combination, with a cutter-head having a rotating spindle and a brace-bar projected therefrom, of a cutter carried by the spindle, means for supporting and moving a mounting beneath the cutter to form prongs upon such mounting, a hood supported ad ustably upon the brace-bar and arranged to encircle and clear the cutter, a

reservoir connected to the hood, and a suction-pipe connected to the reservoir and to means for exhausting the air in such reservoir. w

The combination, with a milling machine having a work-table and a cutter-head having a rotating spindle projected therefrom with a brace-bar projected adjustably from the cutterhead above the spindle, of a cutter carried by the spindle, means fitted to the table for supporting and moving a mounting beneath the cutter to form prongs upon such mounting, a hood embracing the cutter and having a rod secured adjustably to the brace-bar, a reservoir having a screwcap connected by a suction-tube to the head, and a suction-pipe connected also with the cap to exhaust the reservoir and the hood.

In a machine for cutting jewel mountings, and having a revolving cutter, a slide reciprocable beneath the cutter, and a carrier rotatable upon the slide with a vise to hold the mounting and provided with gagebores adjacent to the vise, a gage for use with such carrier and vise and having posts littedremovably to such bores, and having a head attached to the said posts and provided with a gage-plug held detachably upon thehead, and adapted to enter the mounting and center it in the vise when the posts are fitted to the said bores.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS LEHR.

, Gcpies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. C. 

